*By submitting your contribution, you agree to TCM's Terms of Use. TCM will use your personal information consistent with our Privacy Policy

• Breakthrough!

  • Martin Pierce
  • 5/2/12

  Breakthrough was a fairly accurate account of the BREAKOUT from the Hedge Row country of France after leaving the beaches and moving inland. As for another stating that John Agar was the biggest star in the Movie; I guess that person doesn't watch Westerns, Crime Movies, or Joan Crawford Movies--Mildred Pierce is another.

• in support of mr eden and ferguson's request...

  • t.r. rousseau
  • 1/24/10

  ...the acting, directing, editing and script of "Breakthrough" -- from start to finish -- is nothing less than what any squadron of A-listers could have put together, and you at TCM ignore this film to the diminishment of your acknowledged and highly regarded good taste and judgement, i humbly submit. for just one example, who among us with a healthy soul, i dare ask, could not be thoroughly wrenched and heartbroken when dominick says, "hey jimbo, isn't that our transport?" and "jimbo," an orphaned dog lover, who moments earlier had been gleefully witnessing the taking of a dozen german prisoners on the normandy beachhead, dissolves into tears and apoplectic sobbing at the sight of the ship on which his dog and her new litter of puppies("the only family i ever had") has been reduced to a smoldering, smoking wreck by german shore batteries. and jimbo's later scene with the young french boy in the town square. even this 8-year-old kid gives a stunning performance. i've seen a lot of movies and can recall no other moment or scene created by this industry that has moved me to a greater extent that just these two did, and no other group of characters(and underrated actors)that have stuck in my head longer, nor more forcefully dignified, justified and ennobled the cinematic venture. thank you very much and yes, i am available to guest on "the essentials."

• "Breakthrough" couldn't break through in 1949-'50

  • t.r. rousseau
  • 1/19/10

  fergie, i agree with you that breakthrough(i actually used to own a cassette copy)is at least as good a film as battleground, but it seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle of a year that also produced "sands of iwo jima," another minor flick starring john agar. the problem might be that agar is the biggest name in breakthrough while battleground is littered with big names and "sands" is john wayne. all three of these were constantly on t.v. when i was very young and they're what first turned me on to the war. them and "patton", "tora tora tora", "kelly's heroes" and "catch 22"(all from 1970, as was "m*a*s*h", which i hated. they were showing it as a double feature with patton, if you can believe that). and as if my ten-year-old ass hadn't already been confused enough by the nuns. does god love me or want to pitch me into a sea of fire for eating a burger on friday, sister? is war good or bad, hollywood?

• War Films

  • Bob Eden
  • 11/12/09

  I searched this movie because of a web item on CNN reviewing films about D-Day and the battle for Normandy. The item reference Saving Private Ryan, The Longest Day about the D-Day invasion. This film, which I remember seeing on TV back in the early 60's is probably the best film depicting D-Day and the Normandy campaign up to the breakthrough at St. Lo. Please find this film and schedule it for showing.

• Breakthrough

  • E. Ferguson
  • 11/25/07

  Breakthrough and Battleground, WWII war films were both produced in 1950 and althought Battleground received all the publicity,I thought Breakthrough was a better film. I have never seen Breakthrough on TV. Can you show it, please? Thanks, E. Ferguson

• More Reviews